Regulator for refrigerative systems



1934- 'r. w. CARRAWAY 1,984,054

REGULATOR FOR REFRIGERATIVE SYSTEMs Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1z. n I

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ByZ ZM A TTORNE Y.

D66. 11, 1934. w CARRAWAY 1,984,054

REGULATOR FOR REFRIGERATIVE SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2I o h| 8 8 III I Bam zm,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented 1934: p i Q UNIT ED'; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REGULATOR ron REFRIGERATIVE SYSTEMS Thomas W. Cari-away, Chicago,Ill.,-asslgnorto General Fire Extinguisher Company, Providence, R. 1., acorporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1930, Serial No.480,594" 9 Claims. (Cl. 62 -3) This; invention relates to: the controlof a Disposed in the path of the air current flowing refrigerativesystem wherein a current of air is through the heat-absorbing element 1,is a cooled by a heat absorbing: element through displaceable ,member 11which, preferably, is which a refrigerant flows, andv said invention,mounted on a pendent lever 12 pivoted at 13 to broadly considered,involves an electrically-cona casing 14 so that, normally, it will beheld by 5 trolled valve for regulating the flow of I the regravity inavertical position, but, when actuated frigerant, the electrical currentwhich 'actuates by the air current, will swing on its pivot and saidvalve beingitself controlled by adisplacecause its upper end 15 to sotilt the inclined able member that is actuated by the air current.oscillatory switch 8 as to cause the mercury l0 .The heat-absorbingelement-of such a systherein to bridge the contact points 9, and close10 tern, always is covered with frost which offers the circuit 6, 7, toactuate the valve as conditions more or less obstruction to the passageof the may determine. air current. When the frost becomes thick the Ablower l6, driven by an electrical motor 17 flow of air will be reduced,but when it becomes that is supplied with current flowing through thinthe flow of air will be increased. Hence, conductors 18, 19, preferablyis the means for 15 due to these variations of the air current, it isforcing air through the heat-absorbing element 1. possible to interposein the path of said air cur- In the operation of the machine, the heatab rent the initial member of a regulator for the sorbing element isnormally free from frost and electrically-controlled valve, whereby themovethe refrigerant passes freely through the valve 4 20 ments of thatvalve will be determined by variafor cooling the current of air driventhrough the 20 tions in the volume and force of the air occaelement bythe fan 16. The moisture from the sioned by the variable accumulationsof frost on air precipitating and freezing upon the surfaces theheat-absorbing element. of the element builds up said surfaces and in-The invention, in the embodiment thereof creases their area so as todecrease the area of herein disclosed, includes a refrigerative circuitthe passageways through the element and there- 25 having aheat-absorbing element, an electricallyby reduces the current andvelocity of air passing controlled valve for that circuit, means foroptherethrough. Thus, there is a variation in the crating saidelectrically controlled valve, means velocity of the air current and acorresponding for forcing'air through said heat-absorbing elevariationin the thermal conductivity and em- 80 ment, and a displaceable memberdisposed in ciency of the element since the frost is a poor the path ofthe air current for actuating said heat conductor.electrically-controlled valve, whereby constant When the element is freefrom frost and the efficiency of the heat absorbing element will be aircurrent freely passes therethrough, the memattained. ber 11 is displacedby the force of the air cur- 86 Referring to the drawings; rent so thatthe mercury switch closes the cir- Figure 1 is a view showing the systemin ,el'evacuit, energizing the solenoid for holding the valve tion; opento permit the free passage of refrigerant.

Figure 2 is a view showing details thereof, and When the accumulation offrost retards the air Figure 3is a view of the initial element of thepassage so that less force is applied against the 40 controllingmechanism. ,member 11, it will drop by gravity so that the 40 The systemis provided with a heat-absorbing ury switch breaks the circuit, deenrsizi element l,'the elements 2 and 3 being inlet and j the solenoid andclosing the valve. With the reoutlet pipes for the heat-absorbingelement 1. rigerant shut off, the air is continuously forced Aspring-pressed valve 4, of suitable type, conover the frosted surface soas to melt the same trols the flow of the refrigerant in the circuit,and c rry aw y th m i r r y d fr in 45 and this valve is actuated by thecoil of a solethe element until the passage the r a noid disposed withinthe casing 5, the controlling ag n u c y Opened for the air current tocircuit for this electro-magnet being indicated by displace the member11 Which Will Cause e the numerals 6, 7, and being supplied withcurvalve to op and permit e g rant to again rent derived from anysuitable source. pass through the element. 50

An oscillatory and inclined tubular switch 8 Several of the elements ofthe invention are having a contact point 9 and a small quantitydiagrammatically shown, since their details of of mercury 10 which maymove to complete the construction do not constitute features of thecircuit 6, '7, is employed, but any means which invention. i

will attain that result will sufllce. It will, of course, be understoodthat the pre- 5 acter so long as its various pos'itionsare determined byvariations in the velocity of the air current passing overvthe surfacesof the heatabsorbing element 1, and so long as the movements of thevalve 4 are under the control of that displaceable member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A refrigerative system comprising a heatabsorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; means in said circuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; means on one side of said element for moving airtherethrough; and means on the opposite side of said element in the pathof the air flow and actuated in accordance with the variations invelocity thereof for controlling the first named means.

2. A refrigerative system comprising a heat-absorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; an electrically actuated valve in said circuit;means for forcing air over surfaces of said element; and a displaceablemember arranged in the path of the air current for controlling theactuating circuit of said valve.

3. A refrigerative system comprising a heatabsorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; an electrically controlled valve in said circuit;means for forcing air over surfaces of said element; a displaceablemember arranged in the path of the air current; and a switch actuated bythe displacement of said member for operating said valve.

4. A refrigerative system comprising a heat exchange unit in arefrigerant circuit; means in said circuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; a fan arranged on one side of said unit for driving airtherethrough; and a swinging member arranged on the opposite side ofsaid unit and actuated by the air current for controlling said firstnamed means.

5. A refrigerative system comprising a heat exchange unit in arefrigerant circuit; means in said circuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; means on one side of said unit for forcing a current of airover the surfaces of said unit; and a member pivotally mounted on theopposite side of the unit, displaceable toward and awayfrom said elementby variations in the air current for controlling the first named means.

6. A refrigerative system comprising a heat exchange unit in arefrigerant circuit; a valve in said circuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; a fan on one side of the unit adapted to drive airtherethrough; a pivotally mounted vane on the opposite side of the unitadapted to swing in accordance with the air flow through said unit andthereby control the operation of said valve.

'7. A refrigerative system comprising a heat absorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; an electrically actuated valve'in said circuit forcontrolling the flow of refrigerant; means for forcing air over thesurfaces of said element; a member pivotally mounted on the oppositeside of said element from the air forcing means for intercepting the aircurrent passing over the surfaces thereof; and a switch actuated by saidmember for making and breaking the circuit to said valve, whereby saidvalve will be opened when said member is forced away from said elementand closed when said member moves close by said element.

8. A refrigerative system comprising a heat absorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; a valve in said circuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; a fan for moving air past said element; and a pivotallymounted member responsive to said air movement for actuating said valve;the air movement affecting said member being inturn affected by thefrosting of the element whereby upon the element becoming frostedbeyondapredetermined degree the said member responds-to closepthe valveand upon the defrosting'of the element the said member responds to openthe valvje.

v I 9."A "refrigerative system comprising a heat absorbing element in arefrigerant circuit; a valve in saidicircuit for controlling the flow ofrefrigerant; means for moving air past said element; and a swinging vanemounted in the path of said air adjacent said element; the said airmovement being affected by the variation in the defrosting of theelement, whereby the vane swings to effect closure of the valve uponsaid element becoming frosted beyond a predetermined degree and swingsto effect opening of the valve upon the defrosting thereof.

THOMAS W. CARRAWAY.

